Rock of Ages Tour - Birmingham and Wolverhampton

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Thu 09 Sep 2021 - Sat 09 Apr 2022

With Tom Cruise in Birmingham, it's been an apt lead up to this musical as he starred as sexy rocker Stacee Jaxx in the movie version of Rock of Ages.



Taking on his wild role on stage this time around is someone of a very different background - ballroom dancer Kevin Clifton.

The comedy-musical show has earned itself a cult status, partly because it doesn't take itself seriously. Packed with 1980s soft rock hits, Rock of Ages has an x-rated storyline about a pair of ambitious youngsters.

Drew and Sherri end up in LA to find glory, one as a rock star and the other as an actress, but find themselves working in a sleazy bar and finding each other.

Getting in the way of their romance is rock heartthrob Stacee Jaxx. He's the lusty lead singer of a hit band who ooozes sexiness and whom women just can't resist.

Clifton from Strictly Come Dancing played Jaxx in the 2018-19 tour and returns to the role. On the face of it, he may seem too wholesome for the role. He's not got the bad boy sexiness that the part really needs to believe women will immediately drop everything including their knickers for him. However, when he is dancing and singing, he takes on a new air of confidence and he has a surprisingly good voice.



Rock of Ages is at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre until September 11 as part of its latest tour. Unfortunately Clifton doesn't star in the shows on its final day on Saturday. The tour returns to the region next year (see dates below) including to Wolverhampton.

Many of the cast have been with Rock of Ages for a while and it shows with a slick operation.

Playing the wide-eyed innocent pair are Luke Walsh as Drew and Rhiannon Chesterman as Sherrie, whose impressive voices do justice to the back catalogue of 1980's soft rock anthems.

Joe Gash is appealing as Lonny - think compere in the style of Russell Brand - while Jenny Fitzpatrick, whose previously played Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, enters late on as Justice and blows the crowd away with her powerful voice.

It's fun and frivolous but most importantly has a fantastic soundtrack of rock anthems. There's hit after hit supported by a live band so expect plenty of noise



Among the anthems are 'Don't Stop Believin', 'We Built This City', 'The Final Countdown', 'Wanted Dead or Alive' and 'Here I Go Again'.

Then there's the romantic hits like 'More Than Words', 'Can't Fight this Feeling' and 'I Want To Know What Love Is'.

It is set in the '80s and the fashion and sexism go back to that era too. Expect women dancing in skimpy underwear and very big hair.



It feels a little bit dated in some respects on that side as it's heavily aimed at pleasing the male audience members with some gratuitous costumes where the females are concerned.

The storyline is pretty weak but the highlight are the songs. It's ultimately an adult panto with a fantastic rock soundtrack.

Rock of Ages has an age guidance of 12 .

Rating: & #9733 ;& #9733 ;& #9733 ;& #9734 ;& #9734 ;

Other tour dates in the region:

2 - 6 November 2021
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Regent Theatre
03330 096 690

29 - 2 APRIL 2022
WOLVERHAMPTON
Grand Theatre
01902 429212

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!date 09/09/2021 -- 09/04/2022
%wnbirmingham